Toy Fox Terrier Who Went Missing 12 Years Ago Was Finally Found 1,100 Miles From Her Home

Oct 21, 2019 by apost team

Pet owners treat their furry friends like family, so when the family dog or cat goes missing, it creates a great deal of heartache in a household. Despite how stressful losing your pet can be, it is important to remember that there are many things that you can do to get your baby back. Putting up missing posters around your neighborhood is a great way to start, but posting the information to your local Facebook missing pets group and talking to staff at your neighborhood animal shelter are also great ways of maximizing the chance of seeing your beloved four-legged friend again.

Microchipping is also important as it enables a direct link to you from shelters and rescue agencies throughout the country. Microchipping takes center stage in the story of one woman’s happy reunion with her long-missing pooch.

Kathryn Strang was living in Orlando, Florida in 2007 when her beautiful toy fox terrier, Dutchess, ran out the door one day. In the weeks and months following the little dog’s disappearance, Kathryn posted fliers everywhere in her community and frequently spoke with staff at a local animal shelter to try to find Dutchess. Despite her continued search, Kathryn understood that the chances of finding her dog were small. After a while, Kathryn assumed Dutchess had been hit by a car as the street she lived on was a high traffic area. Kathryn nevertheless left one avenue of hope behind. Dutchess had been microchipped as a puppy and Kathryn continued to pay the $15 fee each year in hopes that one day, her dog might be found and reunited with her family.

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Hope turned to good fortune when staff at Humane Animal Rescue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania scanned Dutchess’s chip. The now elderly dog was found under a shed, hungry and shivering with overgrown nails. Speaking with USA Today, Zac Seymour, who serves as the shelter’s manager of digital communications, said that Kathryn was shocked to learn that Dutchess had been found after 12 long years. Staff at the shelter were equally amazed when they learned the sweet dog’s story.

Kathryn happily droved the 1,100 miles to bring Dutchess home. The shelter’s recording of the happy reunion has been watched over 17,000 times as viewers cry tears of joy at Kathryn finally having Dutchess back in her arms. The sweet girl will now spend the rest of her days at home with Kathryn and four new friends: three dogs and a cat.

What do you think of Kathryn’s story? Have you microchipped your pets? Let us know in the comments and be sure to pass this article along to your friends and family.